New York Connects: New Services For Community Care

August 19, 2013

NY Connects is a statewide program that has established a consumer-centered help line in Chautauqua County and nearly every county in New York state. This local phone line can help callers get immediate assistance with referrals for Meals on Wheels, Personal Emergency Alarm System or PERS (also known as help buttons), Medicaid covered care at home and Office for the Aging home care, known as the "EISEP" program.

NY Connects can give people unbiased, accurate and comprehensive information and assistance for long-term community support services. Sometimes the term "long-term care" is only understood to be "nursing home" care. However, there are many community-based support services designed and available to assist people in their own homes. These services can be things like transportation, home delivered meals, home modifications, and care in their homes (housekeeping or personal care support) and housing needs. Long-term care refers to medical and non-medical support services needed to improve or maintain one's health and/or daily function. Information and assistance can be for living well and planning needs as well.

Need an exercise program in your area? Do you know someone who has had a fall and is wary of being out in the community?

There are evidence-based classes and clinics offered to assist people in reducing their risk of falling, and increasing strength and endurance. Stepping On: Building Confidence and Reducing Falls and Healthy Bones are two such opportunities. You can call NY Connects for more information and interest.

Health Quest WNY and Brooks Hospital's physical therapy department offers a program "Staying Balanced throughout Your Life." It is a 10-session program intended to enhance flexibility, strength and posture control through fun exercise to improve your balance. No doctor referral is required. A certified balance physical therapist provides instruction for this community class. It is a low-cost program that meets twice per week for five weeks at the hospital. Health Quest WNY is a comprehensive community wellness initiative brought to you by Lake Erie Regional Health System of New York. You can call Brooks Hospital's therapy department at 363-3092 or NY Connects for more information.

Another exciting service being offered by a local pharmacy-Patient's Pharmacy in Jamestown. They are offering to their clients a unique packaging system that is helpful to use and works like a pre-filled medication box. It is called "multi-dose packaging." Multi-dose packaging is a series of punch cards that enables the patient to have multiple medications packaged in the same card.

This system eliminates the hassle of remembering when or how many medications a patient is supposed to take. Patient's Pharmacy offers a full line of unit dose packaging. Dosing can range from 24-hour dosing to a 30-day regimen. Time of day stickers can be placed at the edge of the pack if the patient is using more than one pack per day. The pack can be labeled for a.m., noon, p.m., morning, afternoon, evening and bedtime. The packaging is disposable, light weight, and travels easily. Packaging is not child resistant and should be stored beyond the reach of children. This packaging system is safer, faster, and easier for the patient when taking their prescription medications.

Patient's Pharmacy offers this packaging option at no extra charge and the pharmacy delivers to all of Chautauqua County. The pharmacy is located at 320 N. Main St., Jamestown, and is planning on opening a North County location later this year. They can be reached at 720-5809. They serve Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

NY Connects promotes independence and dignity, and supports those in need of long-term care and supports to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible. NY Connects is information and assistance telephone service provided by the state for people of all ages, who have ongoing health problems and needs. This service is confidential and free and focused on the consumer's needs and resources available to them. NY Connects can assist you even further by making referrals directly to several programs even while you are on the phone line, saving you time and additional phone calls. Connecting people with helpful services and programs that meet their needs is what NY Connects is here for - providing information to people who may need additional levels of care and assisting them in pursuing them.

You can access Chautauqua County New York Connects in many ways to fit your needs. Email: ccnyc@co.chautauqua.ny.us, call 753-4582 (Mayville), 363-4582 (Dunkirk) or 661-7582 (Jamestown). The fax number is 753-4477. You can even come to our main office location at 7 N. Erie St., Mayville, in the HRC building at the county seat offices. NY Connects is brought to you by the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging and the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services.